Collecting temperature data from a yellow TinyTag data logger.
🌡During fieldwork we also collected habitat and climate data in order to better understand the ecology of these species and how they will be impacted by climate change.
A Mahé caecilian (Hypogeophis brevis) sat on a blue gloved hand. It is dark in colour & about 5cm long with a very pointy head.
Akhila Kummanat holds a large Sharp-nosed caecilian (Hypogeophis rostratus). This requires both hands and a lot of concentration.
🇸🇨 Seychelles has 8 endemic caecilian species. Seven of them can all be found in Morne Seychellois National Park on Mahé island. These limbless amphibians are highly understudied due to their underground burrowing lifestyle. However, the difficulty makes finding one very rewarding!
Ellen Sharkey looks very excited while holding a Montane Mahé Caecilian (Hypogeophis montanus).
A close up of a Montane Mahé Caecilian (Hypogeophis montanus).
The most exciting find of my recent fieldwork: the Montane Mahé Caecilian. Only found on the highest peak in Seychelles, this Critically Endangered amphibian had not been observed since 2015.
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09:30 – 10:00 Welcome refreshments 10:00 – 10:15 Introduction from IBC/UniSey - Gérard Rocamora, Jérôme Harlay 10:15 – 11:10 Current research status of amphibians and reptiles from UK IBC affiliates - Jim Labisko, Simon Maddock, Ellen Sharkey, David Gower 11:10 – 11:30 Refreshment break 11:30 – 11:45 EDGE Sooglossids (title TBC) - James Mougal (independant) 11:45 – 12:00 A scientific approach from the field observations to the conservation actions: explicit, transparent, replicable, verifiable and falsifiable - Bruno Senterre (independent consultant) 12:00 – 12:15 Fundraising, facilitating partnerships, collaborations, and investment for Seychelles EDGE amphibians - Rachel Bristol (independant) 12:15 – 12:30 Reptile diversity and bronze gecko research in Seychelles - Markus Roesch (Uni of Porto) 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break 13:30 – 13:45 The Biodiversity Conservation Section - MACCE: Biodiversity Conservation (Kevin Moumou) 13:45 – 14:00 An overview of conservation work on herpetofauna in Vallee de Mai - Seychelles Islands Foundation (Jessica Constance) 13:30 – 14:45 Aldabra giant tortoise conservation, management, and ecological research in Seychelles - Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance (Rich Baxter) 13:30 – 14:45 The population status of freshwater terrapins in the Story Resort wetland - Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (Chris Mason-Parker) 13:30 – 14:45 The work of Gaea Seychelles (title TBC) - Gaea Seychelles (Mersiah Rose) 14:45 – 15:05 Refreshment break 15:05 – 15:20 An introduction to the IUCN Red List - Louise Hobin (IUCN) 15:20 – 15:35 An introduction to the IUCN Green Status of Species - Magdalena Cygan (IUCN) 15:35 – 16:00 Closing remarks
QR code for symposium
There is a symposium happening on Monday 20th Jan, titled "SEYCHELLES ENDEMIC #AMPHIBIANS AND #REPTILES: CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND NEXT STEPS FOR #CONSERVATION". We will be streaming the talks if you can't be here: Link tinyurl.com/Seychelleshe... or use QR code.
Nb. Schedule is Seychelles time.
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